Just hit a pot hole and the wall of my tire is fucked. Popped the trunk to replace it but I forgot the scisor jack that came with my car doesn’t work. Long story short, I had family who lived near by pick up my floor jack and ratchet kit. Now I am looking into tire replacement, but also how I can just solve this on my own the next time.
Are bottle jacks good for emergency tire replacement, or should I just look for a scisor jack? I feel like bottles are easier, but theres always a few people saying they are junk when I look into them. I have a tire iron but had them grab my ratchet set just in case since it was next to the jack.
I just feel like a dumbass now and want to make sure I’m not a dumbass in the future
Get a scissor jack and cordless impact wrench with fittings for the jack and lugs. You still have to break the lugs by hand but everything else is Nascar fast with the impact wrench. It takes the suck out of using the scissor jack. I personally just carry around a floor jack. It’s too big and kind of heavy but I’ve broken bottle jacks and I kept forgetting to keep my batteries charged on the impact wrench. In my truck I use a corded impact tool (I can’t remember if it’s a wrench or driver) and my generator, but I have to carry a generator most days and still have an unbroken bottle jack strapped up under the seat in case I get caught out.
Having a cordless impact wrench is the dream but I just use a small commuter car and havent had the need for one yet. Might keep an eye out for one if they go on sale.
My buddy has the same car (one gen back) and was able to fit a floor jack in the spare compartment with a donut tire. Might try and see if I can get mine to fit, then I will have freed up some basement storage space.